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The people of ancient China were inventive both physically and mentally.
For instance, they invented paper, gunpowder, the compass and movable printing. They also began to spin silk around 6000 years ago.
Their ideas were also original and far-reaching. Find out more by completing the activities below.
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Activities
1 Handout
Work through this handout, in which the ideas of Confucianism and Taoism are simply presented. Which set of ideas is closer to your own philosophy of life or worldview?
2 Read more about the three philosophies below.
Each philosophy has two recommended websites and some related questions. There are also some embedded videos about each philosophy.
Taoism | Daoism
♦ Britannica: Daoism for Kids | Daoism for Students
♦ United Religions Initiative – Children
- What does the word “Tao” mean?
- Who is thought to be the founder of this philosophy?
- What do Taoists believe?
- Draw or find a picture of Taoism’s famous symbol. What Taoist ideas does it express and represent?
Buddhism
♦ OUP Blog – 10 Facts about Buddhism
a Summarise the story of Siddhartha Gautama and his path to enlightenment.
b Present the three universal truths that he identified during his deep meditation period. Use a symbol or picture to illustrate or represent each one.
c Present the four noble truths that Siddhartha Gautama identified. Illustrate each one with a symbol or picture.
Confucianism
♦ Ancient History Encyclopedia
a Select 2 quotations from Confucian teachings, write them down and then explain them in your own words.
b List and explain the main ideas in the moral code of Confucius. Choose a symbol or simple picture to represent each one.
3 Present your own philosophy of life
Type out the most fundamental point of your own personal philosophy of life and put it into a document with related symbols to illustrate it. Print it out for others to read.
